JobsOhio
Ohio's Private Nonprofit Economic Development Corporation
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
JobsOhio is a private, nonprofit corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction. We have a vision to consistently lead the nation in private sector job growth which ultimately provides good paying jobs with benefits to the citizens of Ohio and the communities in which they reside.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Economic Development
JobsOhio is a private economic development corporation serving Ohio. We are staffed by seasoned professionals with extensive private sector experience and are governed by a private board of directors. Our mission is economic development. We work outside -- but alongside -- state and local government within Ohio.
Up until the end of 2019, JobsOhio was focused on nine (9) economic sectors, principally making loans and grants to support business attraction, expansion, and retention efforts within the state. In late 2019 we added a 10th key sector – Military and Federal. Our 10 targeted industries represent one-third of Ohio’s gross state product, just 22% of its employment, and 40% of Ohio’s payroll.
In addition to our work in 10 sectors, we utilize 4 strategies to drive economic development: Sites, Talent, Innovation, and Inclusion. We work in tandem with 6 regional partners and hundreds of local economic development organizations.
Where we work
Accreditations
Standards of Excellence - Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations 2018
Awards
#12 in Economic Climate 2017
Forbes
#2 in Quality of Life 2017
Forbes
No. 1 state for job creation in business investment projects 2017
Ernst & Young
Nonprofit Organization of the Year 2022
American Business Awards
Company of the Year 2022
Globee Awards
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsNumber of jobs created and maintained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Economic Development
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These actual results show the number of jobs Project companies, in aggregate, reported having actually created at the end of their Metric year.
Number of clients who complete job skills training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Economic Development
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These actual results show the number of employees Project companies, in aggregate, reported having actually trained at the end of their Metric year.
Number of dollars of private sector investments attributable to the organization's efforts.
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Economic Development
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Results show the dollar amount of fixed asset investment Project companies, in aggregate, reported having invested in Ohio at the end of their Metric year.
Number of employer partners offering jobs to clients
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Economic Development
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of companies with project contracts (grant or loan) that reach their first year of metric commitment, called the Metric Evaluation Date, for purposes of reporting jobs, payroll and investment.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
JobsOhio is focused on driving private sector job creation and capital investment in the state of Ohio. Our goal is to lead the nation in this effort.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
JobsOhio's leadership team, with over 200 years of industry experience, leverage business relationships to foster growth in the state. Through the JobsOhio model those relationships are built for long term and consistency.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Driven by a private-funding stream from spirituous liquor sales in the state of Ohio, JobsOhio leverages this funding to support loans and grants to companies with a focus on return on investment.
JobsOhio is led by a board of directors composed of nine proven leaders from some of America's most successful organizations. Their broad experience in management, fiscal responsibility and corporate governance, as well as their diverse perspectives and relevant industry experience, benefit JobsOhio in its mission to drive job creation and capital investment in Ohio.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
• Since its inception ten years ago, JobsOhio finalized more than 2,800 projects with more than 210,000 new job commitments for a total of approximately $10B in new annual payroll. New and existing companies made $64B in total capital investment commitments.
• JobsOhio reversed Ohio’s 10-sector job decline (Lost 18% in decade before JO=230,000 jobs or the equivalent of losing the top employers in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, combined; Since JO, gained 14%
• JobsOhio boosted investment loans and grants from $150M to $500M annually.
• JobsOhio launched 12 major new initiatives ranging from air service, broadband, Innovation Districts, talent attraction and upskilling, and inclusive development.
• Since 2019, 30 companies from the coasts have moved business to OH, accounting for 9,000+ Jobs ~$545M payroll
• During the peak of COVID, JobsOhio acted quickly in response to the pandemic making available up to $250 million in programs to help more than 15,000 small and medium-sized businesses, potentially touching some 300,000 Ohio jobs, workers, and families.
• Since 2013, JOBS has returned more than $380 Million in Profit-Sharing Payments to the Ohio General Fund
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
-
How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?
Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.),
-
How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,
-
With whom is the organization sharing feedback?
Our staff, Our board,
-
Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive,
-
What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
JobsOhio
Board of directorsas of 09/28/2022
Robert Smith
Partner and Cleveland Market Leader, Cerity Partners LLC
Term: 2019 - 2023
John J Bishop
Encova Insurance
Thomas L Williams
North American Properties
John P. Nauseef
JobsOhio
Jerry Sue Thornton
DreamCatcher Educational Consulting Service
Richard J Platt
Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority
Lester L Lyles
General (ret.) USAF
Scott A Sullivan
SelectTech Services Corp.
Lori M Gillett
Corna-Kokosing Construction
Robert Smith
Cerity Partners
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 05/24/2020GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.